NASCAR driver capsules: Oct. 4, 2012

LOOKING BACK: Despite running out of gas on the last lap, Logano was able to coast across the finish line in 10th place. It was his third top-10 finish in the three Chase races. "The most frustrating part about the whole day was that our car was fast," said Logano. "We just all got caught by that first caution. It trapped a lot of really good cars a lap down. It wasn't like it was just us. I think we had a top-five car for sure."

ETC.: Logano continues to dominate the Nationwide Series. He led 184 of the 200 laps Saturday to win his second straight Nationwide race at Dover and his seventh of the 2012 season. Logano has competed in 16 Nationwide races this season. "I told Adam (Stevens, his crew chief) that my monster trophy from last time was lonely and needed a friend -- so I'm glad I was able to get one for him," Logano said, laughing. "Adam's amazing. He's given me some great race pieces seven times this year."

TALLADEGA RECORD: Finished second in the fall race a year ago. Will be shooting for his third straight top-10 finish. Overall has 15 top-10 finishes in 37 starts.

LOOKING AHEAD: Burton said, "Every superspeedway event we've run over the past few years, we were in position to win the race. We have been at a disadvantage lately and not been able to race as hard as we liked to due to engine-temperature concerns. Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines have worked diligently on that, and I feel like we are going back to Talladega with a better cooling package. Hopefully we will be in the middle of the action all day."

LOOKING BACK: Burton finished 27th at Dover. "This was a tough day for the 31 Caterpillar team," said Burton. "We struggled to find the right setup all weekend to get the speed we needed and then couldn't catch a break during the race. I have to give this Caterpillar team credit; they never gave up and kept working hard through all of the challenges. We'll regroup this week and see what we can make happen at Talladega."

ETC.: Despite having a contract to drive the 31 car in 2013, Burton has been part of the infamous Cup rumor mill the last few months. There have been various reports that he was going to be replaced by either Kurt Busch or Ryan Newman, but both Busch and Newman have recently signed new deals for 2013. Burton said he has never been "worried about being replaced. But the fact that I was in the conversation bothered me. We know we have been the weaker of the (three) teams (at RCR). We have to find ways to be better."

1 JAMIE MCMURRAY, Chevrolet

Team: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

WHERE HE STANDS: 20th, 168 points out of 13th place.

TALLADEGA RECORD: One win and six top-10 finishes, including five top-fives in 20 starts.

LOOKING AHEAD: McMurray said, "This (Talladega) is the place where the adage "it's better to be lucky than good" really applies. You obviously need to have a fast car that drafts good, but this is all about being in the right place at the right time in the closing laps. We have had good cars at the speedway races in the past, and I don't expect this race to be any different."

LOOKING BACK: McMurray finished 24th at Dover. "We really had a struggle with the handling of our car in the early going," said McMurray. "We made some adjustments and got it better, but with the long green-flag runs we weren't able to get back on the lead lap. It was just a long, long day."

ETC.: McMurray points out, "You can be in first place when the white flag comes out (at Talladega), and the next time by for the checkered flag you can be in 20th place. I have been lucky enough to win at Talladega, and it is just a matter of being patient all day and put yourself in position to be up front near the end."

OTHERS

42 JUAN PABLO MONTOYA, Chevrolet

Team: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates

WHERE HE STANDS: 21st, 201 points out of 13th place.

TALLADEGA RECORD: One second-place finish and two third-place finishes in 11 starts. Has won two poles.

LOOKING AHEAD: Montoya said, "I love racing there (Talladega), and it's a lot of fun as long as you don't get involved in someone else's mess. It's really anyone's race, and the last 25 laps is really what it come down to. We've tried different strategies in the past, and the last time we got right up in the mix of things and our day was cut short due to an accident in front of us."

LOOKING BACK: Montoya finished 26th at Dover. "It was a disappointing day for our Target team," said Montoya. "Those long green-flag runs really hurt us, so we messed around with fuel mileage at the end hoping to catch a break. I keep hoping that one of these days we'll catch a break. It was just a rough day."

ETC.: Montoya believes Talladega -- the last restrictor-plate race of the season -- might be the race where his luck changes. "The Target team just hasn't had much luck on the superspeedways this year, and hopefully that luck will change this weekend," said Montoya.

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